The GIGABYTE X299 enthusiast motherboards are faster and more powerful than any motherboard the world has ever seen. With an aggressively redesigned armor and thermal heatsinks its sure to turn heads and catch eyes. Performance is no stranger to GIGABYTE, with exotic cooling and an ability to be tuned to peak performance GIGABYTE motherboards will exceed expectations.Server-Class Digital Power DesignGIGABYTE X299 series motherboards use an all digital CPU power design which includes both digital PWM Controllers and Smart Power Stage controllers. These 100% digital controllers offer incredible precision in delivering power to the motherboard's most power-hungry and energy-sensitive components, allowing enthusiasts to get the absolute maximum performance from their new Intel® Core X-series CPUs.Triple NVMe PCIe x4 M.2 with Thermal GuardWith a high-end platform that is already so feature-filled triple M.2 support is a rarity. X299 DESIGNARE EX Motherboard has focused on delivering this technology to enthusiasts who want to maximize their system's potential. With Triple M.2s available on the X299 Series, configuring RAID Arrays have never been simpler.The GIGABYTE X299 Platform is the first enthusiast platform that supports Intel's latest Optane technology. Optane fuels storage performance by acting as a cache drive giving users a significant boost compared to traditional mechanical drives.ArmorGIGABYTE X299 DESIGNARE EX is designed with an aggressive stance, but looks are just the beginning. The armoron the GIGABYTE X299 DESIGNARE EX is created to offer best-in-class performance while still staying cool.Base PlateGIGABYTE Motherboards are the perfect choice when starting your PC build. With an integrated base plate, GIGABYTE Motherboards give users a strong foundation to build their Gaming PC. With larger and heavier coolers, graphics cards, and even memory modules the GIGABYTE Base Plate is perfect to help support any enthusiast's build while reducing cuts and stings from sharp areas of the motherboard.I/O Shield ArmorWith an integrated I/O shield building an GIGABYTE Gaming PC is even easier. Gone are the days of realizing that the rear I/O was forgotten or lost.Do More With Your Fastest CoresDirect your most critical workloads to your processor's fastest cores with Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0.Intel® Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 is a combination of software and hardware that delivers more than 15% better single-threaded performance. Now available on select Intel® Core X-series processor family for Intel® X299 platforms.Smart Fan 5With Smart Fan 5 users can ensure that their gaming PC can maintain its performance while staying cool. Smart Fan 5 allows users to interchange their fan headers to reflect different thermal sensors at different locations on the motherboard. Not only that, with Smart Fan 5 more hybrid fan headers that support both PWM and Voltage mode fans have been introduced to make the motherboard more liquid cooling friendly.Achieve fan silence. With Fan Stop map any fan to stop completely when temperatures drop below a specified threshold. Which fan stops, based on readings from which sensor, and at what temperature - all of it can be customized to your liking.Hybrid Fan Pin Headers & Temperature SensorsAssume complete control over your liquid cooling setup! Smart Fan 5 receives up-to-the-second information on flow-rate and water-temperature through the Hybrid Fan Pin Headers or external thermistor sensors - giving you absolute mastery over your PC.• All Hybrid Fan Headers can automatically detect the type of cooling device whether it be fan or pump with different PWM or Voltage mode.• Includes support for one High-Current Pump up to 3 Amps with built-in overcurrent protection - a must for high-end high current fans.New Smart Fan 5 SoftwareChoose from different modes, Quiet to Full Speed, to match your system usage scenario.For each fan or pump, you can use the intuitive fan curve to define trigger thresholds and corresponding fan speeds.System Information ViewerGIGABYTE System Information Viewer is a central location that gives you access to your current system status. Monitor components such as the clocks and processor, set your preferred fan speed profile, create alerts when temperatures get too high or record your system's behavior; these are the possibilities of the System Information Viewer.Next Generation 40 Gb/s Thunderbolt 3Dual Thunderbolt 3 – The fastest 40Gb/s single-wire connectionPowered by Intel's own Thunderbolt controller the new Thunderbolt 3 protocol, which is available over two USB Type C connectors on the back I/O of the GIGABYTE X299 DESIGNARE EX, brings an unprecedented single-wire bandwidth of up to 40 Gb/s -- twice more than the previous generation of Thunderbolt! This incredible increase in bandwidth is also accompanied with support for different protocols such as DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 3.1, which is backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, opening up a world of new possibilities.Daisy-chain Multiple DevicesSupport for DisplayPort 1.2 makes Thunderbolt 3 a must have for any enthusiast. The X299 DESIGNARE EX is able to support two displays in 4K resolution at 60 FPS or one display in 5K resolution. In addition, Thunderbolt 3 over USB Type C has revolutionary industry-first features such as Power Delivery 2.0, and the ability to daisy-chain up to 12 devices thanks to the X299 DESIGNARE EX's dual USB Type C ports.Dual Intel® GbE LAN with cFosSpeed Internet Accelerator Software + Intel® WirelessDual Intel® Gigabit LAN features cFosSpeed, a network traffic management application which helps to improve network latency and maintain low ping times to deliver better responsiveness in crowded LAN environments.RGB Fusion with Digital LEDsWith X299 Designare EX motherboard RGB Fusion is even better with Digital LEDs. RGB Fusion offers users the option to control onboard and external LED light strips for their PC. Already feature filled with colors and patterns, RGB Fusion on X299 Designare EX motherboard is now upgraded with Digital LED support. With onboard options and external digital LED strips, where each LED is digitally addressable, users can experience even more patterns, styles, and illuminations.X299 Designare EX motherboard will support either 5v or 12v digital LED strips. RGB Fusion with Digital LEDs comes with 9 new patterns and various speed settings with more to come.Surround LightingMulti-light zones are equipped with high brightness RGB LEDs, namely the CPU, Memory, Armor, Audio, PCI-Express and Accent LED PCH Overlay. When it's all set and done, your system will shine like never before.Supports RGBW & UV Light StripsIndependently Programmable Onboard Pin Header for RGBW/UV LED StripsNot bright enough? You can install standard 12V external RGB, RGBW or RGB/UV light strips on the RGBW pin header and control its color from the RGB Fusion software. Using a RGBW light strip with a dedicated white LED, users will experience brighter and more vibrant shades of colors.When using RGB/UV LED strips, users can give their systems a fluorescent glow with the use of UV reactive liquid, neon braided cables, and acrylic paint for a wicked-looking gaming PC.No need to worry when choosing light strips as GIGABYTE motherboards support a wide variety of RGBW/-UV light strips on the market thanks to the RGB Fusion software that allows users to redefine the pin location for the R/G/B Signal.ALC1220 120dB SNR HD Audio with Smart Headphone AmpALC1220 120dB SNR HD AudioThe ALC1220 is a high-performance multi-channel High Definition Audio Codec with up to 120dB SNR for crystal clear audio and features such as Smart Headphone Amp, 114dB SNR recording for precise voice chats and hardware decoding of DSD128, ensuring users get the best possible audio quality from their PC.Smart Headphone AMPAutomatically detects impedance of your head-worn audio device, whether earbuds or high-end headphones to provide optimal audio dynamics - preventing issues such as low volume and distortion.High-End WIMA & Audio CapacitorsThe X299 DESIGNARE EX motherboard boasts a combination of Hi-Fi grade WIMA FKP2 capacitors and audio grade Fine Gold capacitors. While the Fine Gold capacitors are suited for high-grade audio equipment, using state of the art technology to provide rich sound in the bass and clearer high frequencies, the WIMA FKP2 capacitors are being used widely in premium grade Hi-Fi systems. The addition of this to the exclusive AMP-UP Audio technology makes for the ideal onboard sound solution for the most demanding audiophiles.Creative Sound BlasterX 720ËšCreative's latest top-of-the-line audio engine takes your PC audio to the next level. These comprehensive tools backed by leading technology and algorithms in audio will enrichen your experience, whether it's streaming, gaming, listening to music, or other entertainment needs.Ultra Durable Memory ArmorGIGABYTE's exclusive one piece stainless steel shielding design prevents against PCB distortion and twist, plate bending, in addition to preventing any possible ESD interference.START SULFURIZATION PROTECTIONSulfur compounds in the air can penetrate tiny onboard resistors creating chemical change and causing these resistors to open or short. If either of these occurs the motherboard will fail to function. By equipping resistors with an Anti-Sulfur Design GIGABYTE gives Ultra Durable Motherboards a whole new meaning.TriDef SmartCam | Custom Stream ModdingTo facilitate being the full streaming solution each GIGABYTE motherboard includes TriDef SmartCam software, you are now able to remove backgrounds without the hassle of using a green screen. Through the SmartCam application you can now apply live filters, and fully control your background, not only while streaming, but also through other video applications such as Skype.• Supports Intel® Core X-Series Processor Family• Quad Channel Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 8 DIMMs• Intel® Optane™ Memory Ready• Intel® USB 3.1 Gen 2 with USB Type C• Front USB 3.1 Gen 2 Header• 3-Way Graphics Support with Dual Armor and Ultra Durable Design• Server-Class Digital Power Design• ALC1220 120dB SNR HD Audio with Smart Headphone AMP and WIMA audio capacitors• Sound BlasterX 720°, the top-of-the-line audio engine solution for 4K gaming and entertainment• Intel® Dual Band 802.11ac + Bluetooth 4.2 – AC 8265 Wireless Module• Dual Intel® GbE LAN Gaming Network• RGB FUSION with Multi-Zone Digital LED Light Show design, support digital LED & RGB LED strips• Smart Fan 5 features Multiple Temperature Sensors and Hybrid Fan Headers with FAN STOP• Triple Ultra-Fast M.2 with PCIe Gen3 x4 interface and Thermal Guard• NVMe PCIe Gen3 x4 U.2 support by optional adaptor• Precise Digital USB Fuse Design for Stronger Protection• Anti-Sulfur Resistor Design• Ultra Durable 25KV ESD and 15KV Surge LAN Protection• GIGABYTE UEFI DualBIOS with Q-Flash Plus USB port• APP Center Including EasyTune and Cloud Station Utilities